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BVA Welsh Branch

BVA Welsh Branch represents our members in Wales. It brings together representatives of our specialist  divisions, Government, academic institutions, and research organisations in Wales to address the veterinary issues and represent the interests of BVA members in Wales.

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What does BVA Welsh Branch do?

We champion the interests of the veterinary profession in Wales; promote BVA in Wales; and gather consensus views of BVA members in Wales to feed into BVA policy and campaigns.

We provide a strong voice for vets in Wales on issues from recruitment and retention to animal health and welfare. We regularly engage with the Welsh Government, the National Farmers Union and the Farmers Union of Wales, and Welsh animal welfare organisations to advocate for our members’ views and interests.

We also work with partners, including specialist divisions, to promote meetings and events of relevance to our members, and CPD provided by the specialist divisions.

2026 Election Toolkit

Wales will be going to the polls on Thursday 7th May.

To find the candidates standing in your area and your polling station, visit the Electoral Commission website. Summaries of candidates and their priorities can also be found here.

While there are many areas that will impact your decision, we have pulled together a useful guide on what the main parties are saying.

You can see the main points at a glance in this graphic, but we have the full details on the commitments below:

Party Manifesto Comparison: Agriculture, Animal Welfare, and the Vet Profession

Party Key Commitments BVA Supports

▪️Pay farmers for public goods: biodiversity, carbon, soil, water

▪️Support shift to agroecology, organic & regenerative practices

▪️End intensive/factory farming; oppose routine antibiotic use

▪️Strengthen local food supply chains & expand horticulture

▪️Improve land access for new/small-scale farmers

▪️Embed sustainable Welsh food in public procurement

▪️Reduce pesticides; restore farmland habitats

▪️End close confinement & extreme stocking densities

▪️Stronger wildlife protection; end harmful environmental management

▪️Animal welfare as non-negotiable, not market-led

▪️Responsible prescribing and stewardship of antimicrobials across the vet profession and industry.

▪️The use of public money to incentivise and support animal health and welfare outcomes as public goods.

▪️Phasing out farrowing crates for pigs.

▪️Phasing out enriched cages for laying hens.

▪️Multi-year funding cycle for SFS with long-term stability

▪️Independent review of bureaucratic burden on family farms

▪️New approach to bTB recognising wildlife as infection source

▪️New "Made in Wales" branding with carbon-cost info

▪️Science-led Animal Health and Welfare Plan

▪️New regulatory framework for animal welfare establishments

▪️Legal right for renters to request pets (landlords cannot unreasonably refuse)

▪️Examine dog registration/licensing scheme

▪️The development of an SFS that supports good animal health and welfare outcomes.

▪️Evidence-based, regulation that protects animal, environmental and public health.

▪️A collaborative, evidence-led approach to tackling bovine TB that makes use of all the available tools in the toolbox.

 

▪️Replace environmental/farm support with flexible, farmer-choice models

▪️Scrap Natural Resources Wales; redistribute functions

▪️Introduce livestock production payments & outcome-based standards

▪️Reduce admin burdens on regulation, support schemes & inspections

▪️Reform Hybu Cig Cymru into farmer-owned, levy-payer led body

▪️Replace all-Wales NVZ rules with targeted, catchment-based regulation

▪️Mandatory labelling for non-stun slaughter meat

▪️Protect lawful game bird release & review wildlife licensing

▪️Evidence-based, targeted regulation that protects animal, environmental and public health.

▪️Clear labelling of meat and meat-products from animals that have not been stunned before slaughter.

▪️Scrap Natural Resources Wales; replace with independent regulator

▪️Increase farming budget by £100m over the Senedd term

▪️Replace Sustainable Farming Scheme with "food security first" scheme

▪️Scrap Wales-wide NVZ; adopt targeted approach

▪️Evidence-led approach to Bovine TB

▪️£20m Wildlife Wales Fund + National Flood Agency

▪️Amend procurement rules to support Welsh producers

▪️Tackle farm crime with UK Government

▪️A collaborative, evidence-led approach to tackling bovine TB that makes use of all the available tools in the toolbox.

▪️Continue developing Sustainable Farming Scheme

▪️Boost sustainable food production

▪️Increase support for farmers tackling climate & nature emergencies

▪️Ban greyhound racing & make cat microchipping mandatory

▪️Regulate animal welfare establishments & exotic pet keeping

▪️Explore strengthening RSPCA statutory enforcement powers

▪️Introduce Pet Abduction Bill

▪️Increase restrictions on gamebird shooting

▪️Support UK-wide ban on trail hunting

▪️Maintain ban on mass badger culling

▪️Development of an SFS supporting good animal health and welfare outcomes.

▪️Sustainable agriculture.

▪️Better resourcing for more effective and consistent animal welfare enforcement activities.

▪️Collaborative, evidence-led approach to tackling bovine TB that uses all available tools in the toolbox.

▪️Mandatory microchipping of cats.

▪️Further regulation of non-traditional companion animals (exotic pets).

▪️Introduction of a Pet Abduction Bill.

▪️Support profitable, sustainable, nature-friendly farming, alongside training, advice and transition funding for the new payments scheme.

▪️Ensure future trade deals uphold high health, environmental and animal welfare standards, protecting Welsh producers.

▪️Strengthen animal welfare protections and improve transparent food labelling to boost consumer confidence and safeguard Welsh produce.

▪️Set binding targets to halt nature decline and double nature by 2050.

▪️Pass a Wildlife Act for Wales to clarify and strengthen protections for animals.

▪️Provide adequate funding for woodland creation, habitat restoration and SSSIs.

▪️Sustainable agriculture. 

▪️The protection of the UK’s high animal health and welfare standards in the signing of trade deals. 

▪️Transparent animal welfare food labelling.  

▪️Evidence-based, regulation that protects animal, environmental and public health. 

 

Our manifesto for Wales’ animals, vets, and public health 2026-2031


Ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections we have created our manifesto for Wales’ animals, vets, and public health, where we highlight our main asks for Wales’ political parties. Our calls to action cover:

  • The Sustainable Farming Scheme
  • BTB and disease control
  • Responsible use of veterinary medicines  
  • Animal licensing activities
  • Veterinary workforce

 

We encourage you to read our manifesto, share it with your networks, and engage your local MS on it.

Read our manifesto

How can I get involved?

If you’re a BVA member living in Wales, you’ll automatically be a member of Welsh Branch. Here’s how you can get involved:

Your Branch, your views

What issues matter to you? How can we do more to champion the profession in Wales? How would you like us to engage with you? We want to hear from you! Tell us your views and any general feedback you may have to help us to continue to deliver for our members in Wales via our Welsh Branch comment box. 

You can also email your Welsh Branch President Phoebe McCarter and Regional Representative for Wales Phil Thomas. Get in touch with Phoebe and Phil to discuss the veterinary policy issues that matter to you.

 

Shape consultation responses

We regularly respond to Government and stakeholder consultations on a range of BVA’s priority policy areas and campaigning issues in Wales and the UK. Check what consultations we’re responding to and feed in your views to [email protected].

Apply to be on Welsh Branch Council

Each year we seek new members for our Welsh Branch Council, usually during the summer. You can find out about our vacancies online, if there are no current opportunities you can still express your interest by emailing [email protected]. 

Notice of AGM

The BVA Welsh Branch AGM will be held at 3pm on 15 July 2026 at Park Plaza Radisson, Cardiff.

Vets Cymru

We will be attending Vets Cymru in Aberystwyth on 2–3 July. We look forward to connecting with veterinary professionals, sharing insights on current priorities, and discussing how we support the profession across Wales.

Read about our recent events

BVA Welsh Branch recently held its AGM and Annual dinner. Read about the events in our press release.

Meet up and socialise at our members engagement events

It’s not all about work! Keep an eye out for invitations to upcoming member events and CPD sessions.

Updates direct to your inbox

Keep an eye out for your twice yearly e-news round-up to stay up to date with BVA Welsh branch activity and upcoming events.

Welsh Branch Officer Team

 

Welsh Branch Council

Welsh Branch Council regularly discusses veterinary issues, as they relate to Wales, to reach a consensus view on those issues, which is fed into BVA to assist in formulating policy. All specialist divisions have the opportunity to attend Welsh Branch Council. If your division is not currently represented and would like to attend, please contact [email protected].

  • Tricia Sutton (SVS)
  • Mike Jessop (VPHA)
  • Kate Hovers (AWF)
  • Darrell Abernethy (Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Sciences)
  • Iwan Williams (APHA)
  • Jim Hopkins (Wales Veterinary Science Centre)
  • Sarah Carr (Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group)
  • Samantha Morgan-Hourd (BVNA)
  • Phillip Thomas  (Council Member)
  • Sara Pedersen (Council Member)
  • Hannah Hunt (Council Member)
  • Gosia Siwonia (Council Member)
  • Morley Jones (Council Member)
  • Ifan Lloyd (Council Member and Wales Representative on Policy Committee)

More information about the Welsh Branch

To learn more about the work of the Welsh Branch, including meeting papers and consultation responses, please contact [email protected]

BVA Welsh Branch is also represented on the following stakeholder groups:

Sustainable Farming Scheme Working Group

 

News in Wales